The Whims of Bail Bonds in Las Vegas

The caprices of bail in Las Vegas are many and can’t be defined easily. A 50-something-year-old man who is declared innocent after spending twenty-years in prison can’t get bond while the ruling wanders its way through justice, but a twenty-something attorney walks free, released on her own recognizance, after being accused of committing twelve-felonies with an inmate charged murder.

Declared Innocent: Still, Has to Wait Two Years To Go Free

Inmate #45595 gazed at the trucks rolling by the state prison outside Las Vegas. He wanted to be behind the wheel but was lying in his bunk in Cell Block A Unit 7. Semis were his obsession. By 16, he’d stolen his first rig. Middle-aged, Fred Steese’s treasure behind bars was a commercial driver’s license manual. Held together by tape from heavy use.

In 2012, a judge found Steese, after two decades behind bars, innocent. There was one obstacle, and it was major. The Clark County district attorney was not ready to let Steese enjoy freedom.

One option was open. Steese could agree to an ‘Alford plea’ which permits defendants to maintain innocence while at the same time pleading guilty. Steese would have to give up the right to sue. Steese took the deal.

The district attorney refused to consider bail. As far as he was concerned, Steese was freed because of a loophole in the law. Steese was near the finish line after being locked up for over 7,500 days.

Just before 9 am on a February afternoon in 2003, Steese walked free.

Provide a Cellphone to an Inmate and Walk Out of Jail

Plunkett, who represented Andrew Arevalo, took a cellphone into the prison for use inside an attorney room. On various occasions, Plunkett allowed Arevalo and another inmate to “control a cellphone” at the Clark County Detention Center. She faces twelve counts of unlawful possession of a portable telecommunications device by a felony jail prisoner.

When she was released, without bail and on her own recognizance, Plunkett wrote on her law firm’s Facebook wall, “Call for a strong defense.” She didn’t stop there. “I am ALLOWED to bring a cell phone into jail and use if for case-related activity.”

“F*** THEM ALL,” Plunkett added.

Robert Langford, Plunkett’s attorney, claimed he advised her to remove the posts and said, “She’s been in a stressful situation, and anyone’s initial reaction is to lash out.”

As jurisdictions are working to end secured money bail arguments are beginning over their replacement….

A bail bondsman is a good friend when a person is arrested and faces the prospect of spending months behind bars while waiting for a court date. What happens when the guardians of freedom are themselves in legal jeopardy?

Giving the accused the chance to keep working, or find jobs, moves the justice system closer to desperately needed reform, protects the rights of the accused and saves taxpayer money.

“Bail bonding” is a subject where many people believe they are experts. Just because someone has “been there, done that” doesn’t mean they are an authority on the often arcane rules. Take this mini-course and be prepared should you be sent to jail while awaiting trial.

Marcus Hutchins, a disgraced ethical hacker from the UK, was detained in Las Vegas and now allowed to post $30k bail pending his trial.

Nevada recognizes two types of weapons charges: felony and misdemeanor. A weapons charge usually comes out of different actions. Felons are not entitled to own firearms and doing so is a felony. Carrying a concealed weapon without a license is a felony as well, and gun charges might also serve to enhance co-occurring crimes.

Tourists are being given citations and fined for foraging in some of Nevada’s state parks. They’re not gathering psychedelic mushrooms or ginseng. The harvesting ‘pinion nuts’ or pine nuts — first made famous by Euell Gibbons in the 1960s. The delicious nuts can only be gathered by Native American tribes or harvesters with state-issued licenses.